Houston - Green Bay 

In 2015, our founder, Maddy Szymanski, was working at a Fox Cities animal shelter when she came across a video of seven mixed-breed puppies scheduled for euthanasia. At 20 years old, and new to the world of animal welfare, Maddy was unaware of the dire conditions animals face in the southern United States. Determined to help, Maddy and her friends, Sam and Elizabeth, hopped into Maddy’s stick-shift Jeep and drove down to Houston to save the puppies.

During their trip to Texas, the trio discovered the immense challenges faced by overcrowded shelters and the critical need for partnerships and support. By working with Lola’s Lucky Day to place a rescue hold on the puppies and transport them to Wisconsin for adoption, Maddy quickly realized that animal rescue involved far more than simply saving dogs and finding them homes.

Eight months and ten trips to Texas later, Lucky 7 Dog Rescue was born. What began as a small rescue powered by one passionate individual has since grown into a dedicated team of volunteers united by a shared love for animals and their human companions. Together, we provide resources and support to animals in need while fostering the bond between people and pets.

Every day, we work to learn and grow—about dogs, humans, and the complexities of rescue work. As a volunteer-run organization, we are committed to expanding our knowledge of animal care, behavior, adoption, and advocacy. With your help, we can continue changing lives and making a difference not only for animals but also for our Wisconsin communities and rescue partners across the country.

Join us as a foster, adopter, volunteer, or supporter, and help us preserve the powerful bond between humans and animals. Together, we can create a brighter future for all.

A Volunteer-Run Mission

Lucky 7 Dog Rescue is entirely volunteer-run—we do not have any paid staff. For over a decade, everything we’ve accomplished has been thanks to the dedication and hard work of the dozens of incredible volunteers who keep our rescue running. From coordinating transports, fostering, fundraising, and finding forever homes for animals in need, our volunteers are the heart of what we do. Their passion and commitment make it possible for us to continue saving lives and supporting the bond between humans and animals.

  • At Lucky 7 Dog Rescue, we take in any dogs we have open foster homes for. Wisconsin has far fewer homeless dogs compared to other parts of the country, which gives rescues like ours the opportunity to partner with shelters in areas of greater need. Together, we help these pups find loving homes while working to reduce overpopulation.

  • Volunteer to foster or help out! Lucky 7 is entirely run by volunteers and we do not have any paid staff. Your time is your biggest currency! To get involved, click on the “get involved” button in the header of the website.

  • Our largest expense is vetting and transport. Your monetary donations make the biggest impact and go directly to help fund our veterinary bills and transport expenses. As far as items go, we always need the following items: blankets, dog food where meat is the first ingredient listed on the back of the bag, dog treats, leashes, collars, toys, cleaning supplies, and zip lock bags.

  • Positive reinforcement training is a gentle and effective way to teach dogs by rewarding good behavior. At Lucky 7 Dog Rescue, we use this method because it helps build trust and strengthens the bond between dogs and their humans. By rewarding actions we want to see more of, like sitting or coming when called, dogs learn quickly and happily.

    We avoid using harsh tools like pinch/prong collars and e-collars, which rely on fear or discomfort. Instead, our approach focuses on encouragement and patience, ensuring our dogs feel safe, loved, and confident as they learn and grow.